It was ‘World Car of the Year’ in 2009, 7 123 South Africans bought one in 2011 and this year marks the 35th anniversary of the GTI version – the one that arguably kicked off the hot hatch market. We are of course talking about the Volkswagen Golf, which is now, once again, available in a cabriolet version.
The Golf Cabriolet ended production in 2002, 23 years after it fist appeared, and was replaced in favour of the Eos Coupe Cabriolet in 2006. The Eos CC hasn’t had the success that the Golf Cabriolet enjoyed – maybe it is the folding hardtop instead of the soft folds of the fabric canopy, maybe it’s the cramped rear seats, maybe the compromised boot space, or could it be all three? Regardless of the reasons, buyers now have an alternative in the new Golf Cabriolet that comes standard with decades of history – especially with production taking place in Osnabrück, the very same plant that built all previous generations and the original Karmann Ghia – as well as the nostalgia and allure of stretched fabric associated with open top motoring.
Styling-wise, the Cabrio is similar to the European-market three-door hatch, but the car enjoys a sportier demeanour thanks to the more swept-back angle of the windscreen, a lower-profile roofline and a visually very short boot. When the roof is down, the Golf Cabriolet has a deck as clean as a Riviera speedboat’s and when the roof is up, well, it still looks good with its compact and crisp lines. Available in either Comfortline or Highline trim levels, the Highline is set apart with larger 17-inch alloy wheels versus the Comfortline’s 16-inch. At the rear, smoked LED lights have been borrowed from the Golf R / GTI Edition 35, but the rest is all-new, with the bootlid extending low into the bumper when closed and opening high to allow easy access to 250-litres of boot space whether the roof is up or down.
The roof itself is electronically operated, folds down in 9 seconds, folds up in 11 seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 30 km/h. The fabric is integrated with the roof structure with specific retention strips that are said to reduce the tendency for air to fill the roof. Wind noise is also reduced thanks to an insulating filler layer that sits between the interior roofliner and the outer exterior cover. The heated rear glass window was designed to be as large as possible, within the constraints of safety and packaging, and also ensures a good rear view.
The interior of the new Golf Cabriolet mimics that of the Golf hatchback, with the main difference being the slightly limited exterior view thanks to the lower roofline and smaller windows. Components are pleasant to the touch and combined with an excellent fit and finish. The seats are comfortable and supportive, as expected, but legroom is limited in the back, although the roofline affords ample headroom. Between the two levels specification, Comfortline and Highline, the major differences are the leather covered sports seats that are also heated. Conspicuous in its absence, however, is a cooling function for the seats, which would be a welcome addition with summers as hot as ours and help to eliminate excessively sweaty seats.
Many parts of the car have been strengthened during the re-design from hatchback to cabriolet, including the windscreen frame, side panels and doors. To improve its looks and rear visibility, the Golf Cabriolet has rollover bars which are hidden and only pop up if they are needed. Front, side and driver’s knee airbags have been adapted to work specifically with the open-top design and an electronic stability programme (ESP) is standard.
Removing the roof from a hatchback like the Golf can have a seriously detrimental effect on a car’s handling, making it shake, rattle and roll over bumps and feel totally counter to what open top motoring should be, relaxed and enjoyable. Thankfully, as construction methods get lighter and stronger, the likelihood of a modern car generating insufferable levels of body flex and shake are few and far between. The new Golf Cabriolet is an example of this, with only the wind and sunshine to remind you this is a car with its top half missing.
Within the first minute of being on the move, initial impressions are of refinement. With the wind diffuser in place behind the front seats you can cruise comfortably at 120 km/h, with the air conditioning doing its job and maintain a normal conversation with your front-passenger. The steering is accurate and free from shakes and vibrations, meaning there’s no need to take it easy around corners or over bumps for fear of the car flexing. It’s no GTI, but it makes progress as quickly as you’d ever need in a cabriolet.
The Golf Cabriolet is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine that produces 90 kW and 200 Nm of torque in Comfortline specification, or 118 kW and 240 Nm of torque in Highline spec. It is available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearbox. Both the manual and DSG Comfortline models have a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 10.5 seconds, and a top speed of 197 km/h, while fuel consumption is rated at 6.3 and 6.4 L/100km respectively. The more powerful Highline model reaches 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds, has a top speed of 216 km/h and average fuel consumption of 6.4 and 6.3 L/100km for the manual and DSG transmissions.
The new Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet feels well built, refined and is fun to drive. Sharing the Golf’s underpinnings, the Audi A3 Cabriolet doesn’t look as pretty with its protruding roll-over hoops and starts at a higher price tag, making the Golf all the more attractive. Audi salesmen now have more persuading to do.
| Pricing (incl. VAT and CO2 tax) | |
| VW Golf Cabriolet 1.4 TSI Comfortline M/T | R283 400 |
| VW Golf Cabriolet 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG | R297 900 |
| VW Golf Cabriolet 1.4 TSI Highline M/T | R324 000 |
| VW Golf Cabriolet 1.4 TSI Highline DSG | R338 500 |
Pricing includes a 3-year/120 000 warranty and 5-year/90 000 service plan.
